Kalanchoe plant named &#39;dragonfire&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Kalanchoe  cultivar named ‘Dragonfire’ is disclosed, with plants comprised of apple green leaves with red margins. In bright light or during cooler climates, the leaves blush intensely, becoming largely red with green only near the center of the plant. The new cultivar ‘Dragonfire’ exhibits robust and rapid growth, enhancing finished pot production times. The new cultivar has proven landscape and full sun tolerant, including at elevations around 1400 feet in Southern California. The new variety is an  Kalanchoe,  part of the Crassulaceae complex that includes  Aeonium, Echeveria, Graptopetalum, Sedum  and others.  Kalanchoe  is a popular genus, typically produced for the floriculture industry, as well as for uses as container plants for the patio, or as landscape plants.

Latin name of the genus and species: Kalanchoe hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘DRAGONFIRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of an unnamed, unpatentedproprietary seed parent of Kalanchoe luciae with the pollen parent anunpatented, proprietary Kalanchoe hybrida referred to as Kalanchoe ‘21’.The cross pollination was made during December 2015 in Vista, Calif., ata commercial greenhouse. The new cultivar ‘Dragonfire’ was discovered bythe inventor, Renee O' Connell in July 2016 in Vista, Calif., at acommercial greenhouse.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Dragonfire’ was firstperformed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by terminalvegetative cuttings in July 2016. Kalanchoe ‘Dragonfire’ has sinceproduced multiple generations and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Dragonfire’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DRAGONFIRE’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DRAGONFIRE’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoecultivar:

-   -   1. The new cultivar Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ forms plants        comprised of apple green leaves with red margins. In bright        light or during cooler climates, the leaves blush intensely,        becoming largely red with green only near the center of the        plant.    -   2. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ offsets at an early size; at        approximately 4-6″ tall, creating an attractive cluster of apple        green, accentuated by red.    -   3. The diameter of the new cultivar Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ can        exceed 6″ in diameter while offsets are still small; as a        result, a single cutting fills a 1 gallon pot readily.    -   4. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ has been proven landscape tolerant at        1400′ elevation in Escondido, Calif.    -   5. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ is fast-growing, enhancing production        times in a commercial nursery.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the seed parent, inmost horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivardiffer in the following;

-   -   1. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ offsets readily at an early age,        whereas the seed parent does not offset until it becomes older,        and then offsets sporadically, typically at the onset of        flowering.    -   2. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ exhibits an attractive contrast        between the apple green color and the accentuating red blush,        whereas whereas the seed parent displays a pruinose mint green        color, typical of Kalanchoe luciae, accentuated with a pruinose        red, resulting in a less attractive contrast between the two        colors.    -   3. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ grows faster than the seed parent,        thereby enhancing production times in a commercial nursery.    -   4. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’, readily offsetting, forming        attractive clusters in the landscape, whereas the seed parent,        offsets sporadically, taking much longer to form clusters that        are often very uneven, due to the sporadic nature of the        offsetting.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the pollen parent,in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar differ in the following;

-   -   1. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ forms attractive, semi-rosette        plants, whereas Kalanchoe ‘21’ tends to be a taller, lankier        growing plant.    -   2. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’, exhibits an attractive contrast        between the apple green leaves and the red blush, whereas        Kalanchoe ‘21’ is a darker green, resulting in a subdued        contrast between the dark green and the red blush.    -   3. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ forms semi-rosette plants that can        fill a 1 gallon or 8″ pot with 1 cutting, whereas it is        necessary to plant multiple cuttings of Kalanchoe ‘21’ or pinch        several times to fill the same sized pot, thereby enhancing        production in a commercial nursery.    -   4. The leaves of Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ have smooth margins,        with a few rare crenations, whereas the leaves of Kalanchoe        hybrid ‘21’ are irregularly dentate, to variably crenate.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar ‘Dragon Fire’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial Kalanchoe orgyalis. Plants of the Kalanchoe orgyalis aresimilar to plants of the new cultivar ‘Dragon Fire’ in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, the new cultivar ‘Dragon Fire’differs in the following:

-   -   1. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ forms semi-rosette plants, becoming        attractive clusters due to the free offsetting, as compared with        Kalanchoe orgyalis, which grows as a shrub, 1-2 meters in        height.    -   2. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ produces an attractive contrast of        apple-green leaves, with the apices, and often more of the leaf        blushed red, particularly in bright light or cooler        temperatures, whereas Kalanchoe orgyalis produces leaves that        are pilose, and gray-bronze to ruddy copper in color.    -   3. Due to the earlier offsetting of Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’, as        compared with Kalanchoe orgyalis, the plant can be propagated        more rapidly, enhancing production times in a commercial        nursery.    -   4. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ grows faster than does Kalanchoe        orgyalis, allowing for faster production times in the commercial        nursery.

The new cultivar ‘Dragon Fire’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Plants of Kalanchoe blossfeldianaare similar to plants of the new cultivar ‘Dragon Fire’ in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘Dragon Fire’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ has proven landscape tolerant in full        sun at 1400′ elevation in Escondido, Calif., whereas Kalanchoe        blossfeldiana is a plant better grown in a filtered light or        shade.    -   2. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ produces a semi-rosette plant,        whereas Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is an upright subshrub.    -   3. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ forms plants with apple-green leaves,        contrasted attractively with red blushed leaf margins, whereas        Kalanchoe blossfeldiana produces plants with shiny, dark green        leaves. In bright light or cooler temperatures, much of the leaf        of Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ becomes red.    -   4. Kalanchoe ‘Dragon Fire’ can be sold as an attractive,        colorful landscape accent or as a patio accent, whereas        Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is typically sold as a houseplant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘DRAGONFIRE’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and equipment. While the colors inthese photographs may display variances of color as compared to theliving cultivar, due to LRV (light reflectance value), they are asaccurate as possible using conventional photographic techniques. Colorsin the photographs may appear to differ slightly from the color valuescited in the botanical description, which accurately describe the colorsof the new Kalanchoe plant. The photograph depicts a plant grown undernatural light conditions of approximately 4500 foot-candles during earlySummer. Temperatures ranged from about 5° C. to 29° C. night and day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Ruby Starlight’ plants in a commercialgreenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 34° F. to 90° F.night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions wereapproximately 2500-4000 foot candles of light. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe hybrida ‘DRAGONFIRE’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Terminal vegetative            cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at approximately 24°            C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous. Tan to brown, not accurately            described with R.H.S. chart.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 4 months from a            cutting.        -   Container size of the plant described.—30 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Upright branching sub-shrub.        -   Height.—Approximately 28 cm to top of highest leaf.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 27 cm. Plant comprised of 5            stems.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.        -   Branching characteristics.—Freely branching from an early            age.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Average length: Approximately            15 cm. Average width: 8 cm. Width at base: 1.8 cm. Shape of            blade: Oblanceolate. Apex: Rounded obtuse. Base: Broad            attenuate. Margin: Irregular very shallow crenations.            Texture of top surface: Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface:            Glabrous. Quantity of leaves per plant: Approximately 12 to            20 per stem, 4 to 6 stems per plant.        -   Color.—Young foliage, upper side, near apex: Near RHS 46A.            Young foliage, upper side, center: Near Yellow-Green 144A,            lightly flushed Red 46A along margin. Young foliage upper            side, near base: Near Yellow-Green 144A. Young foliage,            under side, near apex: Near RHS 46A. Young foliage, under            side, center: Near Yellow-Green 144A, lightly flushed Red            46A along margin. Young foliage under side, near base: Near            Yellow-Green 144A. Mature foliage, upper side, near apex:            Near RHS 46A. Mature foliage, upper side, center: Near            Yellow-Green 144A, flushed Red 46A. Mature foliage upper            side, near base: Near Yellow-Green 144A. Mature foliage,            under side, near apex: Near RHS 46A. Mature foliage, under            side, center: Near Yellow-Green 144A, flushed Red 46A.            Mature foliage under side, near base: Near Yellow-Green            144A. Venation: There is no visual appearance of venation.            Indistinguishable from leaf blade.-   Flower: Not observed.-   Reproductive organs: Not observed.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Fruits and seeds.—Not observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates temperatures from            approximately 0° C. to at least 32° C.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Kalanchoe            observed.        -   Drought tolerance.—Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high            temperatures without supplemental water, showing no serious            damage to plant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plantnamed ‘DRAGONFIRE’ as herein illustrated and described.